H-719    House amendment "E"           

Sponsored By: Representative PRATT of Eddington

Summary

This amendment incorporates the substance of Senate Amendment "B" (S-420). It enacts into law provisions regarding reorganization of regional school units. The new provisions are similar to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, former sections 1403, 1405 and 1406 and allow the dissolution of regional school units, the withdrawal from a regional school unit by a municipality and the transfer by a municipality out of one regional school unit into another. The amendment includes provisions that formerly applied in this area of law authorizing the State Board of Education to review decisions of the Commissioner of Education and to make rules concerning the reorganization of the regional school units.

This amendment clarifies that the procedures set forth for withdrawal from a regional school unit are available to a municipality prior to the formation of the regional school unit.

The amendment also makes technical corrections to align the employment and collective bargaining provisions of the bill, which apply in the event of dissolution of a regional school unit or withdrawal or transfer of a single municipality from a regional school unit, with the employment and collective bargaining provisions enacted in Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX and codified in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, sections 1463 and 1464.

Fiscal Note

Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund

Fiscal Detail and Notes                                                           

            Allowing for the dissolution of a regional school unit (RSU) or the withdrawal of a regional school unit member from an RSU may increase the total cost of K-12 public education in future biennia due to less savings being achieved versus what was anticipated in Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX.  The amount can not be determined at this time.